updated 03:18 pm EDT, Thu August 1, 2013

Google takes unique approach

Following several leaks, Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility has officially unveiled its Moto X flagship smartphone. The handset fits among the larger high-end Android offerings, integrating a 4.7-inch display with 1280x720 resolution. Despite the company's ownership, many of the X's software features appear to stray from the core Android experience found on Nexus devices.

The company claims to have improved voice-recognition features, eliminating the need to press any buttons when performing functions such as checking weather or finding navigation directions. Notifications can also be viewed without any physical interaction, previewed on the AMOLED display rather than appearing first as a blinking LED.

Confirming earlier reports, the camera utility offers a quick-launch function via two twists of the wrist without needing to unlock the phone. Stills are shot using a 10-megapixel sensor, which is claimed to capture 75 percent more light than competing phone cameras.

Moto X marketing focuses heavily on customization, beginning at the factory. Buyers will be able to choose between different materials and finishes for the curved backside, along with unique facades and accents. The US-bound phones will be assembled in the US, though the company has yet to detail the extent of the domestic work.

Motorola Mobility is expecting to ship the X late this month or early in August, with $199 subsidized pricing from all major US carriers.